HOW TO BECOME A CHRISTIAN!
The Bible Way!
Biblical pathway to becoming a Christian. Christianity begins with a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Why Jesus? Because he is God’s very own Son who came to earth to be the sacrifice for the sins of mankind by dying on the Cross and rising from dead.
The Bible says “Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved.” – ACTS 4:12
Jesus Christ said “I am the WAY, the TRUTH, and the LIFE. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” – JOHN 14:6
Christianity begins by what Jesus said in JOHN 3:7 “You must be Born Again.”
What does it mean to be truly ‘Born Again’? Being ‘BORN AGAIN’ involves a definite heartfelt desire to live for God by a relationship with Jesus Christ. To be BORN AGAIN means you are ‘converted’ in other words there is a change in your life.
MATTHEW 18:3 “Assuredly, I say to you, unless you are converted and become as little children, you will by no means enter the kingdom of heaven.”
One of Jesus’ Apostles named Peter was asked by a large group of people what they must do to be saved the answer is recorded in ACTS 2:38
Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit.”
So following this scripture we have a clear pathway to the Christian faith. Ultimately Christianity is more than just BELIEVING in Jesus it’s making a decision to be a DISCIPLE of Jesus Christ. A disciple is a FOLLOWER of Jesus Christ.
The people who take seriously their decision to be BORN AGAIN and follow the scriptural directions are the ones who genuinely go on to a rewarding Christian life.
My prayer is that you will do the same and start your journey of discovering the Christian life.
STEP ONE: REPENTANCE
ACTS 17:30 “Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to REPENT.”
Repentance is more than saying ‘I’m sorry’ even though God acknowledges humility. The Biblical word for repentance means ‘To come back to God and change your mind’.
Repentance involves a definite decision to ‘turn away’ from sinful living and with God’s help begin a new life of living righteously.
Repentance involves taking the time to confess and renounce sinful behaviour to the Lord. Making a heartfelt declaration that you are truly wanting to change your thinking, words and actions.
I encourage you to take some time with God in prayer or perhaps seek out another Christian who will help pray with you as you repent. Repentance is powerful because it brings an end to one way and gives an opportunity for a fresh start this time with Holy Spirit’s help.
ACTS 3:19 “REPENT therefore and be CONVERTED, that your sins may be blotted out, so that times of refreshing may come from the presence of the Lord.”
Many people make a decision to believe in Jesus but have never truly repented of their sins or made a choice to live according to God’s ways and sadly they seem to always struggle in their Christian walk. Many leave the church after praying a prayer and totally forget about Jesus the next day.
True repentance ignites a touch of God in your life. God’s heart is to touch your life and turn it around for His glory but it can only begin when their is a genuine desire for change.
EZEKIEL 18:21 “But if a wicked man TURNS from all his sins which he has committed, keeps all My statutes, and does what is lawful and right, he shall surely LIVE; he shall not die.”
STEP TWO: WATER BAPTISM
LUKE 3:3 “And he went into all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the remission of sins.” The Bible commands us to be BAPTISED in water. This is a very powerful time of renewal and it’s also the first sign of OBEDIENCE to God’s Word.
Water Baptism is an outward expression of an inward reality. Outwardly you are making a declaration to the world that you desire to be BORN AGAIN. You are saying to the Church that you want to be recognised as making a definite change in your life towards God. You are also saying to God that “I’m not ashamed of the Gospel.”
Water baptism is a type and shadow of you identifying with Jesus’ death, burial, and resurrection. When you go under that water that is your old life being washed by the Blood of Jesus and when you rise out of the water you rise just like Jesus when He rose from the grave to a new life with Him.
You may have been Christened as a baby and even though this is not a bad thing it’s not scriptural nor is it commanded for the church to carry out it’s simply a tradition. However, what is commanded is that persons wanting to become Christians are water baptised upon the confession of THEIR faith not their parents.
ROMANS 10:9 “That if YOU confess with your mouth the Lord Jesus and believe in your heart that God has raised Him from the dead, YOU will be saved.”
Jesus Himself was baptised in water as an adult to demonstrate to us the correct way to enter into the Christian faith.
MARK 1:9 “It came to pass in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee, and was baptised by John in the Jordan.”
I encourage you to be water baptised as soon as possible at Church by an ordained Pastor and make this a special moment for you and the Lord.
STEP THREE: RECEIVE THE HOLY SPIRIT
ACTS 1:8 “But you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you.”
The whole point of Christianity is that YOU would be filled with the Holy Spirit. Before the Cross and what Jesus did for us by dying for our sins the Holy Spirit would only be present within the Holy Temple of God but now because of Jesus, we become the ‘temple’ of God so to speak when we are BORN AGAIN.
The infilling of the Holy Spirit is also known as the BAPTISM OF THE HOLY SPIRIT. It is an experience subsequent to water baptism and they are two very different experiences.
Water Baptism is a personal entrance into the Christian faith. Baptism of the Holy Spirit is to be filled with ‘power’ and ‘gifts’ of the Holy Spirit.
The Baptism is received by the laying on of hands by another Christian who is also baptised with the Holy Spirit.
ACTS 18:17 “Then they laid hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”
ACTS 8:15 “When they had come down, prayed for them that they might receive the Holy Spirit.” Evidence that you have received the Baptism of the Holy Spirit is the ability to speak with other ‘tongues’ or a heavenly language.
ACTS 2:4 “And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak with other tongues, as the Spirit gave them utterance.”
ACTS 19:6 “And when Paul had laid hands on them, the Holy Spirit came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.”
I encourage you today to seek out the Baptism of the Holy Spirit by asking an ordained Pastor to pray for you. Not only will you be filled with God’s Holy power but you will also receive spiritual gifts and the ability to pray in a heavenly language that will greatly enhance your prayer life.
STEP FOUR: JOIN A CHURCH
MATTHEW 16:18 “And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build MY CHURCH, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it.”
Now that you have entered into the Christian faith correctly according to the Holy Bible directions it’s time for you to be established in a Church. God does not want you to be an orphaned Christian without a Church family. God wants you to grow, to be nurtured and for you to discover your place in His Kingdom. Christians who are planted in one church are the ones who most often have the greatest sense of stability, cohesiveness, and joy. Christians who are not established in a church always remain unaccountable and generally fall back into sinful living far more easily than those who are planted and submitted to Godly authority.
Here are some very important things to consider when desiring to be planted in a Church.
1. Ensure it is a Bible-believing, full Gospel, and Holy Spirit-led Church.
2. The Church is affiliated with a recognised denomination.
3. It must be a place you feel at home in.
4. You have an affinity with the Senior Pastor and really resonate with him.
5. The Senior Pastor is ordained and is credentialed with a wider authority.
6. The governance of the Church is transparent and has integrity.
7. There is a strong emphasis to carry out the ‘Great Commission.’
Distance or travel time should never be a consideration for what Church you attend as God will draw you to the exact place He knows is where you should be for your spiritual growth.
The Church you attend is as vital as being water baptised or baptised in the Holy Spirit. Church life is a central theme in the New Testament and is God’s design for His people to grow, be cared for and for service in His Kingdom.
Remember this: The requirement to enter heaven is not based on what church you attend as it is FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST that saves you but the church you attend will really make the difference between you growing in God or simply becoming a religious person devoid of any power of God.
STEP FIVE: GET A BIBLE
The Holy Bible is God’s Word which has been given for you to help you grow in the things of God.
1 PETER 2:2 “As newborn babes, desire the pure milk of the word, that you may grow thereby.” The Holy Bible is divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit and is God speaking to us. It’s not a book of legends and myths as some would say but a historically proven set of 66 books divided into two parts.
The Old Testament consisting of 39 individual books that contain the Torah (Five Books of Moses), Books by Prophets, History, and Psalms by King David.
The New Testament consisting of 27 individual books which contain the four Gospels, Apostolic letters and the Revelation of John. The New Testament has clear directions to the Christian Church by Paul the Apostle.
2 TIMOTHY 3:16-17 “All Scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, thoroughly equipped for every good work.”
The Holy Bible is for you to read, study, and meditate on. It’s also a reference point for day to day living and contains the tremendous promises of God for His children.
JOSHUA 1:8 “This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate in it day and night, that you may observe to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.”
I encourage you to purchase a good Bible and bring it with you to all Christian meetings you attend. I preach from the New King James Version. You may also add to that a journal so you can take notes during preaching and teaching times.
